James Engel stories

Buffalo Township approves tax hike to rebuild reserves

Buffalo Township residents will see another bump in their property taxes next year after township supervisors opted to raise the township’s millage rate in their recently passed budget. It raises real estate taxes about 22%, from 13.5 mills to 16.5 mills. That means the owner of a property at the...
No tax increase for South Buffalo residents next year

Next year, South Buffalo residents can expect their tax bills to remain the same. The township passed its 2026 budget without a tax hike for the 16th consecutive year earlier this month. South Buffalo’s property tax rate will remain at 5.7 mills. That means for a home at the township’s...
Plum School District’s new finance director returns to role he previously occupied

John Zahorchak is set to return to Plum School District as its new director of finance and operations. Zahorchak, a Plum resident, previously served in the same role from 2016-2021 before leaving for neighboring Penn Hills School District. There, he helped oversee Penn Hills’ exit from financial recovery status in...
90-year-old artist paints portraits of caregivers who helped her recover at Plum retirement community

When a broken leg rendered Eva Lu Damianos mostly immobile in June, a whole team of nurses, aides and therapists assembled to get her back on her feet. Months later — now sauntering around with the help of a walker — Damianos, 90, has chosen to express her gratitude by...
Water main break repaired at Winfield mobile home park after persistent issues

A “boil water advisory” has been lifted for residents of Bernie’s Mobile Home Park in Winfield after a six-day repair period for a broken water main. Park management and the state Department of Environmental Protection both confirmed the advisory was lifted on Tuesday. In a statement sent to residents, park...
Plum’s Make-A-Wish telethon cracks $1.25 million all-time total in 25th edition

When Rick Berrott started Plum’s Make-A-Wish telethon in 1999, the event lasted a few hours and was filmed on VHS tapes. But in its 25th edition on Monday and Tuesday, students stayed on the digital airwaves for more than 12 hours to crack an all-time total of $1.25 million. Berrott,...
Penn Hills man accused of fighting Plum police after being revived from drug overdose

A man repeatedly attempted to fight Plum police officers after being revived from an apparent drug overdosed Monday, police say. Frank Russo, 39, of Penn Hills is charged with three counts of felony aggravated assault, obstructing administration of the law and resisting arrest, among other misdemeanors. Officers were dispatched to...
Freeport Council appoints member for remainder of year

Carrie Irvine will serve just over three weeks on Freeport Council before her term ends. She was appointed by elected members of the council on Dec. 9 to fill a vacant seat on the seven-member body for the remainder of the year. That seat was left open by the early-November...
Springdale Council members say they legally had little choice in data center approval

Despite significant pushback from residents and environmental groups, Springdale Council members said they were powerless to reject a proposed data center project in the borough. Council voted, 5-2, Tuesday to approve a conditional-use application from land developer Allegheny DC Property Co. to build a massive AI data center at the...
No tax hike, but slight bump to sewage bills in Freeport’s proposed budget

Freeport residents can mostly expect business as usual in 2026 if the borough opts to pass its proposed budget on Monday. The budget doesn’t opt for any tax hikes, though residents’ sewage surcharge would go up just under $2. The surcharge would be bumped to $48.71 from its current $47,...
Winfield mobile home park faces water troubles again after monthlong ‘Do Not Use’ notice

Barely a month after water at Bernie’s Mobile Home in Winfield finally tested at safe drinking levels, residents are facing a boil water advisory. In a statement sent to residents, park management said Bernie’s had experienced a water main break on Wednesday, which resulted in a loss of water pressure....
Springdale Council passes budget without tax bump; sewer bills see slight increase

Springdale residents can expect much of the same in 2026. Borough Council passed its budget Tuesday with a slight increase to sewer rates but no tax increase. Sewer rates will go up 7%, or $1 per 1,000 gallons of usage, from $13.75 to $14.75. At the borough’s rate of 9.75...
Springdale data center gets initial OK, but several more public hearings to come

Though Springdale Council offered its approval for a conditional-use application from developers seeking to build a massive data center in the borough, the vote is only the beginning of the process. The project now enters the land development stage, which likely will last months and involve several more public meetings...
Residents near proposed Springdale data center left frustrated by council’s approval

Rex Cramer has lived on Porter Street in Springdale for more than 30 years. When he arrived in the borough, he moved in directly across the street from a towering coal-fired power plant — the former Cheswick Generating Station. The plant’s frequently fraught demolition concluded earlier this year. But on...
New Salina Bridge open to traffic; demo of old span still to come

After more than a year of construction, motorists can now cross the Kiski River on the new Salina Bridge. The span carries Bridge Street over the river and Norfolk Southern railway tracks between Bell and Kiski townships. Stretching 650 feet, the bridge features two 11-foot-wide lanes and 5-foot shoulders. The...
Springdale Council approves data center despite resident resistance

Saying its hands were tied, Springdale Council approved an application to construct an AI data center in the borough. After months of meetings and debate, council voted, 5-2, Tuesday night to approve a conditional-use application from developer Allegheny DC Property Co. to build a massive complex at the site of...

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